Natural home treaments for a sick goldfish?

Question

My goldfish has thick fungus growing all over its fins. It lives outside. What is something natural I can do to fix this? Something I might have around the house.

Ok, salt seems the go. I only use seasalt in the kitchen. Rocksalt. I am confused as I have two different measurement answers. Also, I don't know what a gallon is so will have to convert it to litres. I hope the fish dosen't hate me for this. I bought three and two died so really want to help this one.

Answer 1

Salt, but you will have to remove it from it's environment to treat it effectively. Salt is a very effective treatment against fungus. You will need a container just large enough to comfortably hold the fish and a reasonable amount of water. Fill it with enough water for the fish to move about just a bit. Measure the water as you fill the container from the fishes regular environment, it will be important to know how much water you are dealing with. This will require a salt solution of at least 2%, less will have no effect what so ever. Add 2 tablespoons of salt per gallon to the container and dissolve it completely. Net the fish and move it to this salt dip. Leave the fish there for no more than 5 minutes. If it shows signs of serious stress before then, remove it back to it's original environment. Repeat this process once or twice a day for no less than 5 days.

You need to be careful what type of salt you use when you are adding it to a fishes full time environment, but for this use any salt will do the job, even regular table salt. The iodine found in that salt will not harm your fish for such a short exposure.

Also, there is an unfortunate myth on the internet that you can't use salt on a goldfish. That is totally and completely wrong. Salt is quite safe and effective for goldfish. Salt in this level will not harm the fish at all... too much will. 1/2 Cup per gallon should prove deadly to the fish in quite short order.

If you decide to treat with medications be very careful to avoid antibiotics such as Maracyn and the like. Not only will they NOT treat fungus (they treat bacterial infections) but they will kill all of the beneficial bacteria in your tank or pond. So you will not kill the problem and will only make matter far worse for your fish, Please instead use a fungus medication such as Maroxy.

Feel free to email me if you have any questions.

MM

Answer 2

Salt is the most natural thing, but you cannot use table salt. It must be aquarium salt, rock salt, kosher salt, etc. It cannot be iodized. Salt is less aggressive as a treatment than medications at the fish store, but it can work. With a "thick" fungus, I really would suggest some Maracyn or Maracyn-2. But, if you want to stick with "home remedies," try salt. Add 1 tsp salt per 5 gallons of water pre-dissolved in water and then mix in tank. You can also do a saltbath as an initial treatement. This is about 1/2 cup of salt per gallon of water. Put the fish in the water. When it floats to the top and stops moving, give it a gentle nudge and it should swim again. Continue this process until it won't swim anymore when nudged, but no more than 3 minutes.

Answer 3

Alcohol - specifically spirits, preferably clear, like vodka, if not, the highest % "proof" on hand. I know this sounds strange, but it was in my goldfish book, and I have used it for sick indoor goldfish - 1 teaspoon of spirits in an indoor tank, and it cleared up problems about 50% of the time. You could use an amount from a tablespoon up to quarter of a cup in an outdoor pond. Don't try houehold cleaners.

Answer 4

Putting a fish in the fridge is not humane, they suffer as their blood crystalizes. I would treat the poor thing, and not look for simple solutions. I am all for natural care, but when someone is sick you need medical care, and then use natural stuff as prevention for next time. Fungus is easy to cure so I hope you dont just let the poor guy die.

Answer 5

add about 15mL of non-iodized salt for every 20L of water.

worse comes to worse meds may need to be used, the fungal infection seems to be pretty advanced, as is.

Answer 6

non idoized salt.

or humanely put him down by putting him in the fridge,